Are you thinking of asking your partner to marry you? Is your heart beating out of your chest with fear and anticipation? Is the Pope an American dude called Bob? The answer to all of these questions is, of course, “yes and I’m absolutely fine about it”. Except you’re not fine about it. Because you’ve got a million questions running through your head.
One of those questions is “can the Pope really be an American called Bob?” But that’s not the question we’re concerned with today. Rather, we’re going to help you answer the hardest question in your pre-proposal playbook: what engagement ring do I buy? Even with the most rock-solid of relationship foundations, there’s a lot riding on what rock you propose to your beau with – so let’s figure it out together. Here’s how to buy an engagement ring with confidence.
Define Your Budget and Style
Before we go anywhere near the big diamond numbers you’re probably thinking of, let’s start with a budget. Bear in mind that most places you go to get an engagement ring will allow you to set up some kind of payment plan or finance agreement; with this, you might be able to stretch your budget a little further if you’re worried about money. Don’t push yourself though – style is far more important that the bill.
Figuring out your partner’s style ought to be easy. After all, they’re the love of your life, the person you want to spend forever with, the source of all your love and joy in this dark, forsaken facsimile of a world. Shouldn’t you know what they like? Of course you don’t! So, give yourself a hand and discreetly study their existing jewellery collection. Is it full of simple, modern pieces or does it belie a more vintage look? Maybe they’re ecologically conscious – and hence would feel the love from a lab-grown diamond over the alternative .
Master the 4 Cs: The Diamond’s Blueprint
Here, though, we’re talking about the rock. If you’re buying an engagement ring, you don’t need to buy a diamond one – but maybe you should. If you do land on getting the forever mineral, you should avail yourself of knowing the ‘four Cs’. The quality and value of a diamond are essentially determined by the following ‘C’s: Cut, Carat, Colour, and Clarity.
Cut refers to the diamond’s proportions and symmetry, a result of the shaping its received in its life by jewellers. A well-cut diamond is obvious for its sparkle. Carat is the diamond’s weight, though not necessarily a marker of betterment. Bigger doesn’t always mean better!
Colour is a lettered, graded scale that describes how hued a diamond is; for the best value, you’ll want a diamond in the near-colourless range – aka G, H, I, or J. Finally, clarity measures the number of tiny natural flaws or “inclusions” within the diamond. A diamond is “eye clean” if you can’t see these flaws without a magnifying glass, which is often a perfect balance of quality and value.
Choose the Setting and Metal
Finally and most importantly, it’s time to make some specific decisions about style. Engagement rings for men are traditionally more minimal than the femme-friendly fare – but not necessarily. It’s all about setting and metal. Whatever the gender, if you’re buying a gemmed ring, you’re buying something with a metal setting and a style of cut for the gem itself. Do your research! But if in doubt, get a solitaire cut; it puts all the focus on the center stone.
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